AVANTech’s Advanced Polymer Solidification Process Receives Bulgarian Regulatory Approval for Use on Radioactive Waste

Columbia, SC – In 2018, a Consortium of AVANTech and Risk Engineering Limited (REL) of Bulgaria were awarded a contract by State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SERAW) for the design, build, and operation of a Waste Treatment Plant. The plant is for the treatment of radioactive wet solid wastes from the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Bulgaria. The project scope covers the safe retrieval, treatment, and processing of historical wet solid wastes in KNPP Units 1 to 4.

AVANTech’s Advanced Polymer Solidification (APS™) will be utilized for the stabilization of the processed sludge and resin wastes. AVANTech is designing and manufacturing the complete equipment including retrieval, processing, and stabilization for the system, while REL will take the lead for on-site operations. SERAW has received approval for the consortium’s technical design using the APS™ based on its on-site testing performed with the actual wastes.

SERAW received a permit for the implementation of the APS™ system from the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency based on the testing and approval. The use of APS™ for the stabilization is expected to reduce the overall waste generated by at least a factor of four compared to cementation, resulting in less stored waste and significant savings for SERAW. The equipment is currently being built in our Columbia, South Carolina, facility and is planned to begin installation and on-site testing in the summer of 2021.

AVANTech is the leading US-based comprehensive radioactive waste management and industrial water treatment solutions provider. The Company’s extensive experience in engineering process systems enables them to crate integrated solutions that dramatically improve operations in government, commercial, industrial, and nuclear power applications. AVANTech engineers and manufactures a number of patented technologies and products in their three fabrication facilities and provides radioactive waste products and systems in over 15 countries.